The DVD Lowedown 11/17 – 11/23
Thanksgiving is almost upon us, fellow space travelers. It is a time for being thankful as well as visiting loved ones…and even if you do not celebrate this holiday I will you all well. I want to say that I am thankful for all of you…I write these reviews for you just as much as I do for myself. Let’s face it…I needed to do something after buying 7000 movies.
Let’s get The Lowedown on what I watched this week…
Here’s The Lowedown on “Heilstatten: Haunted Hospital” (NR – 2018 – DVD)
Lang: German
Genre: Horror/POV
My Score: 5.3
Cast=4 Acting=6 Plot=7 Ending=5 Story=3
Scare=3 Jump=5 F/X=6 POV=7 Twist=7
At an abandoned sanctuary near Berlin, a group of YouTubers illegally enter for a 24-hour challenge they hope will go viral. They learn too soon that they are not alone and not welcome.
“Rule number one: no Internet while we’re here.” I thought this was pretty good, but only because I am a POV horror junkie. This movie would only appeal to those that would think the same way. Even still, there was a solid concept (maybe because YouTubers die) and a good twist (you have to pay attention). If you’re desperate, this might be worth a look.
Here’s the Lowedown on “The Man who Killed Hitler and then The Bigfoot” (NR – 2018 – Blu)
Genre: Drama/Adventure
My Score: 6.3
Cast=5 Acting=8 Plot=5 Ending=5 Story=7
Interest=7 Script=6 Filming=7 Violent=7 F/X=6
An old, bitter recluse who was once a legendary assassin for the US government, is asked to come back from retirement for one final top secret mission.
“My grandfather use to tell all kinds of stories about this one soldier.” The title hooked me right off the bat…and Sam Elliott on the cover. I watched the movie and it was more bout a man who was not proud of what he did…but did it because it was his job. The action was solid and I liked the story…even with the meh ending. I can’t say it was worth buying, but it is worth a look on a streaming service or a premium channel.
Here’s The Lowedown on “Polar” (TV-MA – 2019 – Netflix)
Genre: Action/Gun
My Score: 7.0
Cast=7 Acting=5 Plot=5 Ending=8 Story=5
Violent=10 Pace=9 F/X=9 Gun=8 Intense=7
An aging assassin is able to do what few others can…retire. But when a contract is put out on him, he realizes his employer has other plans.
“I like dogs with human names.” There’s not a whole lot of dialogue in this one…only a lot of sex and violence. I saw nothing wrong with that…like eating a bag of jelly beans and none of them were black. I thought the bad guy was lame, so the ending drops a couple points. This will not appeal to those that want a story or great acting…but if all you want are boobs and bullets this should be seen. Just don’t put a hit on me if you don’t like it.
Here’s The Lowedown on “Dumbo” (PG – 2019 – Blu)…Fly Dumbo Fly!
Genre: Drama/Family
My Score: 6.7
Cast=10 Acting=5 Plot=7 Ending=8 Story=7
Interest=5 Script=6 Filming=8 Family=8 Funny=3
A young elephant whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus. Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.
“Never do anything I tell you, without checking with me first.” If you have ever seen the animated movie…you know exactly what to expect. Considering the cast though, I was disappointed in the acting and maybe the chemistry was off but I didn’t find it funny at all. When the credits rolled on this film, I found it a solid family film with good cinematography. There just wasn’t anything special about it. It was like playing the lottery and winning one dollar…but not buying another ticket.
Here’s The Lowedown on “A Star is Born” (R – 201 – DVD)…I don’t sing my own songs.
Genre: Drama/Music
My Score: 7.7
Cast=9 Acting=7 Plot=8 Ending=6 Story=8
Interest=6 Script=10 Filming=8 Music=8 Romance=7
A musician helps a young singer find fame as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
“I think if we had a better band name we might have made it.” Anyone notice that Bradley Cooper was acting like Sam Elliott and Lada Gaga was caught in a bad romance…I just had to say it. I got caught in the hype of this being a great movie. It was good and there were parts I loved…but there were parts I didn’t like as well. I had to turn it off about halfway through and finish it later. If you’re in the sha-la-low, the sha-la-la-la-lala-low…bring tissues and give this a look.